Trail of Cthulhu: Eternal Lies interactive campaign map

Rickard Gudbrand was so inspired by this image in the Eternal Lies book...

...that he decided to do a similar thing of his own, to be able to give his players during the game. Then he realised that he’d have to update the map as the investigators travelled to different locations, and possibly in a different order after the initial chapter.

The result is a beautiful interactive PDF map with layers, which the Keeper can use whatever order the players decide to travel in, as each layer can be activated individually and then printed (it’s designed as an A3-handout, so some fudging might be required to print to US letter size).

I was notified today that "As the password was causing difficulties for some customers, we have now removed the password protection and uploaded a new PDF file."

I downloaded the new PDF file and it was a one page image of a grey map of the world; nothing more. Does that mean Pelgrane is still worried I will be freaked out by the spoilers? Was this a mistake? Is it all part of a grander conspiracy?

J. MMay 29, 2014 10:14 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I wasn’t notified but I did read your comment, so I re-downloaded the file. Doesn’t work in Preview (Mac), but works fine with Acrobat Pro. Should also work with the latest Acrobat Reader, I guess, so give it a try. (Actually, it’s pretty nice—it should give the players a feeling of space and time during the campaign.)

J. MMay 29, 2014 10:29 pm UTC

PURCHASER

P.S. Now that the password’s no longer needed, it’s actually stated in the re-download’s purchase notes! (But I guess not everything in the world is meant to be understood.)

Rick BMay 30, 2014 6:57 pm UTC

PURCHASER

The new PDF file I received was literally a one page image of a grey map of the world; nothing more. There's nothing there to try. I guess I could entertain myself by guessing the names of the countries on the grey wordless map. I'm using Win7 with Adobe Acrobat CS6.

Rick BJune 02, 2014 3:12 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Finally realized that I had to turn on each of the layers (in Adobe Acrobat) to view them. My bad.

Rick BMay 09, 2014 6:34 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I can't believe I was asked to give a review of this product; I'm still waiting for a response to my previous comment.

May 05, 2014 6:11 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Would you all like some cheese with that whine?

Rick BMay 29, 2014 5:28 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Isn't it ironic to whine about others whining. Btw, if people don't speak up when they believe an injustice exists, then injustices will only get worse.

However, I also believe that if one feels the need to complain, then the complaint should include a suggestion on how to fix the perceived problem. For example: withdraw the offer completely, or provide a truly free copy, or provide the password, or change the offer to free for anyone who owns the Eternal Lies rulebook.

That's just my opinion; nothing personal is intended.

J. MMay 29, 2014 9:54 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Well spoken.

Robert DApril 26, 2014 8:25 pm UTC

I guess, when they say "free" they mean that we should feel "free" to spend our money on their other products?

Marcia KApril 26, 2014 7:34 am UTC

PURCHASER

So where are the purchase notes?

Gareth HApril 26, 2014 7:15 pm UTC

PURCHASER

They're emailed to you automatically by drivethru. Look for an email entitled "Thank you for your drivethrurpg.com order". The password is clearly marked in the email.

April 26, 2014 8:59 pm UTC

PURCHASER

If you look in your account tab recent orders section and select the order which includes this it will be there too.

Rick BApril 28, 2014 2:37 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Not in my purchase notes (email or account). Btw, there are times when I want to see spoilers. I prefer having the option; after all, I am an adult.

J. MApril 28, 2014 7:35 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Neither is it in my purchase notes, email or account. Maybe the Deep Ones took it…just a guess, but it really smelled somewhat fishy when I opened them.

J. MApril 30, 2014 11:25 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Also, have y’all already downloaded your copy of the “Trail of Cthulhu: Lying Weasels” interactive campaign map supplement? It’s a blast, I tell you, and a great addition to that useless PDF on your harddisk.

1111 1April 26, 2014 3:00 am UTC

PURCHASER

Interesting definition of "free" -.-

Kevin MApril 25, 2014 11:12 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Wow! This is a fantastic handout for Keepers running an Eternal Lies campaign. Thanks to everyone who made this free download possible. Great work!

4266841455079861 HApril 25, 2014 9:19 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Yeah, not so free, and quite confusing opening a password protected file.

David _April 25, 2014 6:17 pm UTC

PURCHASER

So if you purchase the Eternal Lies campaign book then you also get this map for "free" with it? Calling it a Free Product of the Week is like calling the "free" items on TV specials the free product of the week. Just 4 payments of $19.95 and you get a free comb!

Rickard GApril 25, 2014 3:58 pm UTC

It is intended as a support file for the Eternal Lies campaign book, and not as a standalone map. The reason behind the password protection is that it includes most of the campaign level clues, which would spoil the campaign in case players got unlimited access to the content.

4266841455079861 HApril 25, 2014 9:19 pm UTC

PURCHASER

If the players want to cheat themselves out of a good experience, what's to stop them?

daniel BApril 25, 2014 1:28 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I advise the author to do a little research on the meaning of the word "free". I would want to write more, but as another customer wrote "all of which would not be fit to print".

Raphael LApril 25, 2014 1:27 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Indeed. Now what?

Rickard has protected it with a password: the first word on page 376 in the Eternal Lies rulebook.

J. MApril 25, 2014 12:39 pm UTC

PURCHASER

That’s a very peculiar notion of “free” indeed. Other descriptive markers come to mind, all of which would not be fit to print.

Brandon WApril 25, 2014 6:38 am UTC

PURCHASER

Aw, little did I know that you needed the password to open the file. Sneaky sneaky, I should have read the entire page.

Now that the file has finally become useful (after weeks of wasteful weaseling), I must admit it’s pretty good. It should give the players a sense of space and time during the campaign, and it adds greatly to the period atmosphere. [...]

A truly excellent addition to the Eternal Lies campaign, which does not deserve the downvotes it has received. It clearly stated the existence and nature of the password protection on the product page. [...]

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